People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force
| People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force | |
|---|---|
| 中国人民解放军军事航天部队 | |
| Founded | 19 April 2024 |
| Country |  People's Republic of China |
| Allegiance |  Chinese Communist Party |
| Type | Space force |
| Role | Space warfare |
| Part of |  People's Liberation Army |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lieutenant General Hao Weizhong |
| Political Commissar | Lieutenant General Chen Hui |
| People's Liberation Army |
|---|
 |
| Executive departments |
| Staff |
| Services |
| Arms |
| Domestic troops |
| Special operations force |
| Military districts |
| History of the Chinese military |
| Military ranks of China |
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The People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force is an arm of the People's Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024.[1] It is one of two independent space forces in the world.[citation needed]
History
[edit]The PLA Aerospace Force was established on 19 April 2024, severed from the simultaneously disestablished Strategic Support Force.[2][3] The PLAASF consolidates all the PLA's space-based C4ISR systems, as well as administering all the existing launch sites, and all other military satellites and space assets.
The China Daily referred to it as the People's Liberation Army Space Force before its official English name was released.[4][1]
Organization
[edit]The PLAASF is headquartered in the Haidian District of Beijing.
Central staff sections include:
- Staff department (参谋部)
- Information and Communications Division (信息通信处)
- Political Work Department[5] (政治工作部)
- Logistics Department[6](后勤部)
- Engineering Construction Management Office 工程代建管理办公室(创作室)
- Equipment Department (装备部)
- Equipment Support Team[7](装备保障队)
- Relay Satellite Control and Management Center (中继卫星控制管理中心)
- Test Equipment and Materials Procurement Bureau (试验装备物资采购局)[8]
- East China Office (华东办事处)[9]
- Xichang Quality Supervision Station (西昌质量监督站)
Subordinate Units
[edit]Launch Centers
[edit]- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (中国酒泉卫星发射中心), MUCD: unit 63600 (a.k.a. Dongfeng Base or Dongfeng Aerospace City). Located in Dongfeng Town in the Ejin Banner of the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia, Jiuqian was one of the first aerospace launch facilities ever constructed in China. It is the main base for testing and launching the Long March series of rockets, as well as other missiles, various test satellites meant for low and medium orbits, application satellites, and crewed spacecraft. The base is also responsible for the main spacecraft recovery location.
- Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (中国太原卫星发射中心): Stationed in Kelan County of Xinzhou City in Shanxi Province, the launch base was constructed in March 1967 under Project 3201 as a response to the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations. The base was constructed deep in the mountains and deliberately misnamed as part of the Chinese strategy of "backing-up, concealment, and dispersion". The site mostly served as a nuclear missile site and as a detachment of Jiuqian until it was made an independent unit in January 1976. The launch center was opened to international commercial launches in the 1990s with its launch of two U.S. Iridium satellites into orbit.
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center (西昌卫星发射中心) MUCD: Unit 63790. Headquartered on the Hangtian North Road of Xichang City in Sichuan Province. As of 2022 it also remotely controlled the Wenchang Aerospace Launch Site in Hainan Province.
Control Centers
[edit]- Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center (北京航天飞行控制中心): based in the Haidian district of Beijing, it is the main control center for China's space program, including the crewed Shenzhou missions. The BACC conducts launch monitoring, tracking and measurement, as well as launch recovery. It includes the China offices of SINOSAT and Inmarsat.The complex including the BACC is often called "Aerospace City" (航天城)
- China Maritime Satellite Telemetry and Control Department (中国卫星海上测控部), MUCD Unit 63680: Stationed at Jiangyin City in Jiangsu Province, the base was established in 1978 as the headquarter and home port for the Yuan Wang-class tracking ships, which are used to track rocket and missile launches, in particular the testing of the Dongfeng series ballistic missiles and Long March rockets.
- Xi'an Satellite Telemetry and Control Center (中国西安卫星测控中心), MUCD: Unit 63750. Stationed at No. 28 Xianning East Road in Xi’an City of Shaanxi Province, the base was established in September 1975 as a missile measurement and tracking base and is now the operations and control center for China Energyne and the backup control center of BACC.
- Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telemetry Technology (北京跟踪与通信技术研究所)[10] aka BITTT: located at the Beijing Space City, it focuses on satellite communication and navigation research.
Testing, Development, and Training Centers
[edit]- Malan Nuclear Test Base (中国马兰核试验基地), MUCD: Unit 63650. Located at the western ends of Lop Nur and Nairenkeer Townships of Heshuo County in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Base 21 served as the main nuclear launch and test site of the Chinese nuclear program. The Base has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since 1996.
- Luoyang Electronic Equipment Test Center (中国洛阳电子装备试验中心), MUCD: unit 63880. Located at Luoyang in the Henan Province, Base 33 serves as the metrology and instrument measurement center of the PLAASF. It also conducts astronomical mapping and surveying. This base used to be one of the most restricted bases in China and was off limits to foreigners until the 1980s.
- China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (中国空气动力研究与发展中心) (CARDC). located in Mianyang City, Sichuan, it is the largest aerodynamic research center in China, specialized in hypersonic missile research.
- Astronaut Center of China (中国航天员科研训练中心) aka ACC: located at the Beijing Aerospace City, it is the main training and research center for the Chinese space program's astronauts.
- Astronaut Corps (中国人民解放军航天员大队): headquartered at Beijing Aerospace City, it is a directly subordinated military unit of the Aerospace Force. As of 2018 it had selected and trained 42 astronauts, and was in the process of training a third batch, which will include civilians.
- Aerospace Research and Development Center (航天研发中心):[10]
- Project Design Research Center (工程设计研究所)[10]
- People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force's Aerospace Engineering University (中国人民解放军战略支援部队航天工程大学): not clear what the new name will be after the April 2024 reform.
Equipment
[edit]The PLAASF controls all of China's military satellites, as a well as the BeiDou satellite navigation system.[11] This space force is estimated by the Military Balance 2024[12] to be around 245 satellites, plus perhaps some dual-use civilian satellites.
As is common in all countries with significant space forces, exact data on China's military satellites' functions is hard to come by. The generic "Yaogan" name is used for military satellites, and only sometimes is the actual military designation released (like the "Jianbing" series). Often, launches are disguised and receive civilian designators, at least for a period.
In counter-sat functions, while as of 2024 the PLAASF does control three possible ASAT satellites, it is unlikely it has command of the SC-19 anti-satellite missiles under the PLARF control.
| Name of Class | Chinese | System | Type | Orbit | Number in Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SatNav: 45 Satellites | ||||||
| BeiDou 2-M | 北斗二号-M | BDS-2 | Navigation | MEO | 3[12] | |
| BeiDou 2-G | 北斗二号-G | BDS-2 | Navigation | GEO | 5[12] | |
| BeiDou 2-IGSO | 北斗二号-IGSO | BDS-2 | Navigation | IGSO | 7[12] | |
| BeiDou 3-M | 北斗三号-M | BDS-3 | Navigation | MEO | 24[12] | |
| BeiDou 3-G | 北斗三号-G | BDS-3 | Navigation | GEO | 3[12] | |
| BeiDou 3-I | 北斗三号-I | BDS-3 | Navigation | IGSO | 3[12] | |
| Communications: 11 Satellites | ||||||
| Shentong 1 | 神通-1 | MilCom | MEO | 2[12] | ||
| Shentong 2 | 神通-2 | MilCom | MEO | 4[12] | Shentong 2-5 launched as SinoSat2E as a secrecy measure | |
| Fenghuo 1 | 烽火-1 | MilCom | GEO | 2[12] | Launched as SinoSat 22/A as a secrecy measure | |
| Fenghuo 2 | 烽火-2A/C/D/E | MilCom | GEO | 4[12] | Launched as SinoSat 1A/C/D/E as a secrecy measure | |
| Meteorology/Oceanography: 8 Satellites | ||||||
| Yunhai-1 | 云海一号 | YHS | Atmospheric Observation | SSO | 2[12] | Mixed military and civilian use |
| Yunhai-2 | 云海二号 | YHS | Atmospheric observation (GNSS-RO) | SSO | 6[12] | |
| Reconnaissance: 92 Satellites | ||||||
| Jianbing-5 (Yaogan-1) | 尖兵五号 (遥感1号) |
JB-5 |
ISR -SAR | LEO | 2[12] | |
| Jianbing-6 (Yaogan-2) | 尖兵六号（遥感2号） |
JB-6 |
ISR - IMINT | LEO[11] | 4[12] | |
| Jianbing-7 (Yaogan-6) | 尖兵七号（遥感6号） | JB-7 | ISR - IMINT | LEO[11] | 4 [12] | Very high resolution |
| Jianbing-9 (Yaogan-8) | 尖兵九号（遥感8号） |
JB-9 |
ISR - IMINT | LEO[11] | 5[12] | Medium resolution |
| Jianbing-10 | 尖兵十号/ |
JB-10 |
ISR - IMINT | LEO | 3[12] | Decimeter resolution |
| Jianbing-11/12 | 尖兵十一号/十二号 |
|
ISR - IMINT | LEO | 3[12] | |
| Jianbing-16 | 尖兵十六 | LEO | 3[12] | |||
| LKW | ISR - IMINT | LEO | 4[12] | Optoelectronic | ||
| Tianhui-1/2 | 天绘一号/天绘二号 | Cartography | LEO[11] | 10[12] | Stereoscopic Multispectral and Radar Imaging | |
| Yaogan-29 | 遥感29号 | Space Surveillance | LEO[12] | 5[12] | ||
| Yaogan-34 | 遥感34号 | ISR - IMINT | LEO[11] | 4[12] | High resolution optical/radar | |
| Yaogan-35 | 遥感35号 | Space Surveillance | LEO[11] | 15[12] | ||
| Yaogan-36 | 遥感36号 | ISR - IMINT | LEO[11] | 15 | Optoelectronic | |
| Yaogan-39 | 遥感39号 | LEO | 12[12] | |||
| Yaogan-40 | 遥感40号 | LEO | 3[12] | |||
| ELINT/SIGINT: 81 Satellites | ||||||
| Chuangxing-5 (Yaogan-30) | 创新五号(遥感30号) | CX-5 | ELINT | LEO | 30[12] | Launched in triplets |
| Jianbing-8 | J尖兵八号 | JB-8 | ELINT | LEO | 15[12] | Maritime Surveillance |
| Qianshao-3 | 前哨三号 | SIGINT | GEO | 3[12] | Part of TJS program | |
| Shijian-6 | 实践六号 | SJ-6 | ELINT | SSO | 10[12] | Launched in pairs |
| Shijian-11 | 实践十一号 | SJ-11 | Launch Warning | SSO | 7[12] | IRST |
| Yaogan-31 | 遥感31号 | ELINT | LEO | 12[12] | ||
| Yaogan-32 | 遥感32号 | ELINT | LEO | 4[12] | ||
| Early Warning: 5 Satellites | ||||||
| Huoyan-1 | 火眼一号 | HY-1 | Early Warning | GEO[11] | 5[12] | Part of TJS program |
| Rendezvous and Proximity Operations: 3 Satellites | ||||||
| Shijian 17 | 实践十七号 | Debris clean up | GEO | 1 | Possible Countersat capabilities | |
| Shijian 21 | 实践二十一号 | GEO | 1 | |||
| Shijian 23 | 实践二十三号 | GEO | 1 | |||
Personnel
[edit] |
Commander
[edit]- Shang Hong (January 2016 – October 2022)
- Hao Weizhong (2022 – present)
Political Commissar
[edit]- Kang Chunyuan (January 2016 – April 2019)
- Jiang Ping (June 2019 – August 2021)
- Chen Hui (August 2021 – present)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Chinese PLA embraces a new system of services and arms: Defense spokesperson - China Military". eng.chinamil.com.cn. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Xi Focus: Xi presents flag to PLA's information support force". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
- ^ "Xi Orders China's Biggest Military Reorganization Since 2015". Bloomberg News. 19 April 2024. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "President Xi unveils PLA's Information Support Force". Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ a b "西安交大推人才培养重大改革 成立钱学森学院". 光明网. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019.
- ^ a b 陈怀国：〈用故事礼赞初心〉，《求是》2016年第16期
- ^ 张光友，曹晔，段国韬，李宝庭，高磊. "一种氧化锌纳米材料及其制备方法与应用". Google Patents. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "战略支援部队航天系统部试验装备物资采购局采购评审结果公示". 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2024.，中国招标网，20201104112119
- ^ 上海市拥军优属拥政爱民模范集体和个人名单（2011-2014） Archived 2016-12-12 at archive.today，光明网，2016-07-29
- ^ a b c "浙大举行皮星二号卫星任务总结会，浙江大学，2016-09-30". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Satellite Database | Union of Concerned Scientists". www.ucsusa.org. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj The International Institute For Strategic Studies (IISS) (15 February 2024). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2024. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-78004-7.
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